Topic 4: Is Technology Making Us Dumber?

This month’s topic comes straight from our Gentle Thinker friends in Brisbane https://www.meetup.com/Gentle-Thinkers/. Hurrah for share-sies!

In 2008, the Atlantic published a controversial article “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” warning that easy access to vast amounts of information online might actually be detrimental to our ability to read and think deeply. (https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/is-google-making-us-stupid/306868/)

Recently, evidence has emerged that IQ scores have *declined* in Northern Europe. (https://slate.com/technology/2018/09/iq-scores-going-down-research-flynn-effect.html) Why is this happening? How is technology affecting our intelligence and skills? Are our skills only changing? What useful new skills do we have that the previous generation did not?

A&S Bücherland have kindly agreed to host this meetup. Attendees are encouraged to make a 5€ contribution to assist with the venue’s running costs. Additionally, the venue has tea and coffee facilities and a selection of drinks are also available for us to purchase.

 

Image credit: Photo by pixabay.com from Pexels

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